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October marks the 75th anniversary of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), which is a great opportunity to talk about how diverse, disability-inclusive workplaces provide tangible benefits to businesses, including increased innovation, improved productivity and a better work environment where all employees can thrive.

 

The quest for talent is one of today’s defining business challenges, yet many are unaware of the untapped talent pool of job seekers with disabilities. People with disabilities must be resourceful to adapt to the world around them. Strengths such as problem-solving, persistence and a willingness to innovate are a part of their basic skill set. 

 

Why should employers care about creating a disability-inclusive workplace? Because recruiting, hiring, retaining and advancing workers with disabilities is good for business. 

 

To learn how VR helps people with disabilities prepare for employment in North Carolina, click on the "Vocational Rehabilitation in North Carolina" tab. 

 

To learn about how you can celebrate NDEAM in your workplace and promote disability inclusion all year long, click on the “The Disability Inclusion Advantage” tab.  


 

NDEAM Image

North Carolina’s public vocational rehabilitation (VR) programs help people with disabilities achieve their goals for competitive employment and careers. 

 

If you have a disability and want to find a job, keep working or advance professionally, they can help you chart your path to a career with a future in North Carolina. Eligible consumers will partner with a counselor to develop an individualized plan for employment that can include counseling, education, training, job placement assistance, assistive technology and many other services. There is no cost to apply or to find out if you are eligible for services and we provide services statewide through two partner divisions:

 

  • The Division of Services for the Blind (DSB) helps people who are visually impaired, blind and deafblind reach their goals of independence and employment. Through a network of local offices, DSB provides individualized, person-centered services statewide. For more information, contact the district office near you.

 


 

Building a disability-inclusive organization can help you benefit from a wider pool of talent and gain a competitive edge over businesses that don’t make inclusion a priority. Check out the suggestions below – and the ways EIPD can help:

 

Attend an NDEAM event
To learn how EIPD can help you develop an inclusive workplace where all employees have the opportunity to thrive, don't miss our special NDEAM event, “Harness the Power of Inclusion” on Thursday, October 29 at 9:30 AM.

 

Host a VR intern
Take advantage of this easy way to connect with great talent, while providing young people with disabilities valuable career experience. Intern wages are paid by EIPD while they gain on-the-job experience working for your business.

 

Partner with VR to host a "lunch and learn" webinar
Host a series of "lunch and learn" events for employees with help from the subject matter experts. EIPD staff can help you plan informal, educational webinars that cover important workplace inclusion issues at no cost to your business. For more information on these virtual events, click here. 


Connect with your local EIPD office
Employers that partner with EIPD gain access to job-ready candidates and no-cost services and resources for recruitment, onboarding and retention. EIPD can also advise employers on financial incentives for hiring our candidates, workplace accessibility and assistive technology solutions that improve productivity, retention and inclusion of all employees. 


For more information, call your Division of Services for the Blind district office or your Division of Employment and Independence for People with Disabilities (EIPD) local office.